What You Need To Do Before Moving In Ontario

Moving to a new home involves many steps, whether you hire full-service movers or handle it yourself. Planning ahead and staying organized will keep your move running smoothly. 

At Capital Movers & Storage, we’ve outlined essential steps to help you stay on track with your move within Ontario. With so many moving parts, breaking the process down by timeline can help keep everything on track. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll plan for two months until your move date. Though even with limited time, a solid plan and moving checklist will make this huge task more manageable.

Eight Weeks to Moving Day

Note - depending on your destination, certain tasks may take much longer than the lead time before your move. In this step we’ll include some tasks that should be started as soon as you know you’re moving.

• Where will you be moving? If you’re moving out of town, out of province, out of country, now is the time to research your new community and begin the process of selecting new schools, applying for a new family doctor (ontario.ca), identifying utility and service providers (OEB or IESO), parking arrangements, etc). If you’re moving from out of the country you may not be able to move until your travel documents, including work visas, are in order.

• Walk through your home and make an inventory of everything you plan to take with you. Will it all fit in your new space? For the items you are moving, decide what needs to be packed, what you’ll carry with you, and what needs extra care.

• If you’re going to hire a mover, now is the time to contact at least three companies and ask them to provide you with an estimate for your move. This step can help you decide what services are within your budget.

• Pick a mover after carefully reviewing the information they’ve provided and checking into their references, reviews, and company details.

• Schedule your moving date in advance. You can confirm details closer to the move, but booking early is especially important during busy times, like summer or month-end. Movers will often require a credit card to hold your reservation, so be sure to clarify their cancellation policies.

• If moving yourself, reserve a rental truck and supplies so you know you’ve got what you need come move day.

• If you are travelling to Ontario by air, now is the time to make these arrangements for you and your pets (if applicable). 

Six Weeks to Moving Day

• Go through your closets and storage areas with your moving inventory in mind. For items you’re not taking, decide whether to sell, donate, or discard them. 

• If needed, transfer any applicable records to your new school or doctor office. 

• Start your packing checklist

Four Weeks to Moving Day

• Check in with your moving company to confirm service date and share important details, such as elevator times, truck access, and parking restrictions. If you’ve hired movers to pack for you, confirm the day(s) they’ll be on site to pack your belongings (usually 1-2 days before move day).

• If you are doing the packing yourself, finalize your packing checklist and gather a supply of moving boxes in various sizes, packing tape, markers, labels, and paper. Start by packing out of season items and anything you won’t need before or immediately after your move. Be sure to label each box with its contents and the room or area where you want it placed in your new home.

• Notify friends, family, banks, insurance providers, and government agencies of your new address and its effective date. Submit a change of address form with the government  (Service Ontario) and update your online accounts and subscriptions as needed.

• Collect all important documents (i.e., birth certificates, passports, medical and dental records, moving paperwork, and checklists) and keep them in a safe place. These items, along with medications, valuable jewelry, and anything of significant sentimental or monetary value, should travel with you rather than being packed in boxes. 

Three Weeks to Moving Day

• Reach out to your current utility providers (cable, internet, electricity, water/sewage, home phone, gas, alarm systems, and heating/cooling services, etc.,) to schedule disconnection a few days after your move, or arrange a transfer to your new address if the same company services that location.

• Contact utilities providers at your new residence and arrange for setup.

• Decide how you’ll clean your home after moving out. If you’re hiring a cleaning service, contact them in advance to schedule and arrange access. If you’re renting, it may be less of a concern, but be sure to leave the unit in good condition to avoid extra fees.

• Inform your moving company if you have made any substantial changes to the inventory upon which your estimate was based. They can provide you with a revised estimate if there are big changes. 

• Confirm elevator booking at your origin and destination (if applicable). Let your mover know if any changes to time.

• Make arrangements for children and pets for move day - will you need a babysitter? A boarding facility? These should be booked now. 

Two Weeks to Moving Day

• How will your plants be getting to your destination? Generally movers do not transport plants and if they do, it’s at the owner’s risk.

• Movers cannot transport dangerous items (fuels, solvents, gasses, etc.). Your mover will have provided you with a list of items they are not permitted to transport. You may want to contact your community’s Hazardous Waste disposal center for any items you can’t rehome.

• Continue packing. Last minute packing, though sometimes unavoidable, can be a big stressor in the final days before a move. Remember to label cartons with the contents and their location at destination. 

• If you’re taking any appliances with you, now’s the time to contact an electrician and/or plumber to arrange to have these items safely disconnected and prepared for move day. You may also want to arrange for service providers at destination to reconnect these items immediately following your move-in.

• Depending on where you’re moving, it may not make sense to take all of your food with you. Think ahead about what you’d like to do with the items you’re leaving behind. If you have unopened dry goods you don’t plan to keep, consider donating them to your local food bank. Many moving companies will even collect these items on moving day and deliver them for you - be sure to ask if that service is available. 

One Week to Moving Day

• Finish packing and ensure all items that are not being moved have been clearly labeled and/or placed in one location. Leave out a few extra boxes for any final items to be added on move day.

• Ensure your banking is in order for your new location - whether that’s opening new accounts/changing banks or just confirming everything is in order.

• Drain oil/gas from any power equipment you plan to move, and disconnect and drain water from appliances. Remove batteries from all items being packed and keep them with you, as movers are not allowed to transport batteries.

• Movers usually disassemble beds and other large furniture, but they don’t remove items attached to walls, such as shelves, mirrors, or curtain rods. Now is the time to take these down and prepare them for the move. Keep screws and small parts together in a clearly labeled package.

• Check in with your moving company to confirm timings for move day, update contact information, report any changes on your end, ask any questions about final preparation.

• Pack a bag of first-night items.

The Day Before Moving Day

• Empty your refrigerator.

• Make sure all of the items you are moving yourself are in one location and clearly labeled so the movers don’t take them by mistake.

• If you’ve not spoken with your mover in the past 48 hours, now is the time to contact them to confirm times for the next day, highlight any concerns, and ask any last questions.

• Get a good night’s sleep.

Moving Day

• If it’s wintertime, ensure all outdoor walks and steps to the house are cleared of ice and snow.

• Walk through the house with the crew when they arrive. Make sure all members of the moving crew are aware of items that they are not to move. 

• Oversee the move by meeting the crew and understanding each person’s role. One crew member will be in charge of which you can direct any questions or concerns to that person.

• Do a final walkthrough to ensure that everything gets on the truck that was supposed to.

• Confirm that the movers have your new address and contact numbers. Get the driver’s phone number for direct communication if needed. For long-distance moves, stay in touch with the moving company for the latest updates on your delivery schedule.

• Check all your paperwork, especially the Bill of Lading (which will have your moving protection –“increased carrier liability” choice marked off).

• If moving locally or having same day delivery, arrange for a half hour break between moves so you can close up your house and be at the new one.

We hope this moving checklist has helped you think through the steps needed to stay organized for your upcoming move within or to Ontario. Every move is unique, and some items may not apply to your situation, but using this guide, whether you’re hiring full-service movers or moving yourself, will help you be well-prepared for the big day. If you’re relocating to or within Southeastern Ontario we’re here to support you every step of the way!